What is the primary purpose of health insurance?

The primary purpose of health insurance is to provide financial protection against medical expenses. Health insurance is designed to help individuals manage the costs associated with healthcare services, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications. By spreading the risk of high medical costs across a larger pool of insured individuals, health insurance allows people to budget for healthcare expenses more effectively and reduces the financial burden of unexpected medical emergencies.

This coverage typically involves the policyholder paying a premium, and in return, the insurance company agrees to cover a portion of their healthcare expenses. This safety net helps ensure that individuals do not face overwhelming financial challenges due to high medical bills, which can be especially significant in the event of major health issues or accidents.

The other choices address different aspects of healthcare but do not capture the essential purpose of health insurance. Providing financial assistance for healthcare training does not relate directly to insurance coverage for medical costs. Ensuring that all healthcare services are free misrepresents the role of health insurance, which involves shared costs rather than complete coverage without any expenses. Promoting healthy living and disease prevention is an important aspect of health care but is not the fundamental reason for health insurance, which primarily focuses on financial protection.